Get Various situations -> Towing and towing Guide for Volkswagen Touareg SUV Third Generation (2018-2025)

Towing and towing

WARNING

During the towing of a vehicle, the driving

behaviour and braking ability change

considerably. To reduce the risk of an accident

or serious injury, please note the following:

Introduction to the topic

● As the driver of the towed vehicle:

Towed starting means starting the engine of one

vehicle while another vehicle is pulling it.

– You will have to apply the brakes much

harder, as the brake servo does not

work. Always be careful not to collide

with the towing vehicle.

– You will need more steering force, as the

power steering does not work when the

engine is switched off.

Towing means to pull a vehicle with a vehicle

that is not roadworthy.

Observe the legal provisions for towing and

towing.

For technical reasons, do not allow the vehicle to

be towed if the 12-volt battery is discharged.

p. 305

→

● As the driver of the towing vehicle:

– Accelerate with particular care and caution.

– Avoid braking and sudden manoeuvres.

If the vehicle is equipped with Keyless Access,

only allow towing with the ignition switched on!

– Brake earlier than usual and more

gently.

If the vehicle is towed with the engine switched

off and the ignition switched on, the 12-volt

battery gradually discharges. Depending on the

state of charge of the battery, the voltage drop

can be so great, even after only a few minutes,

that no electrical consumers in the vehicle, such

as the hazard warning lights, will function.

NOTICE

● To avoid damaging the vehicle, e.g. the

paintwork, carefully remove and fit the cover

and towing eye.

● Unburnt fuel may reach the catalytic converter

and damage it during towing.

Indications for towing and

towing start-up

WARNING

Never allow the vehicle to be towed without

power.

Please note

and at the beginning

● When towing, never remove the key from

the ignition lock and never switch the

ignition off with the ignition and start

button. Otherwise, the mechanical steering

column lock (steering lock) or the electronic

steering column lock could suddenly engage

and it would be impossible to steer the

vehicle. This could lead to an accident,

serious injury and loss of control of the

vehicle.

of this chapter on page 309.

Tow rope and tow bar

The tow bar is safer for towing and prevents

damage to the vehicle. The tow rope should

only be used if a tow bar is not available.

The tow rope must be elastic to prevent damage

to the vehicles. Use a cable made of synthetic

fibre or similar elastic material.

● If, during towing, the vehicle becomes de-

energised, stop towing immediately and call

for specialist assistance.

Attach the tow rope or tow bar only to the

eyelets provided for this purpose or to the towing

device.

tive towing vehicle.

310

Instruction manual

If the vehicle is factory-fitted with a towing

device, towing with a tow bar is only permitted if

the tow bar has been specially designed for

mounting on a ball hitch.

– More than 50 km must be covered.

– Smooth wheel rotation or steering operation

after an accident cannot be guaranteed.

If the vehicle cannot be towed on its wheels for

any of the above-mentioned reasons, call in a

specialist and have a tow truck transport the

vehicle without the wheels touching the road.

Starting by towing

For technical reasons, it is not possible to start

the vehicle by towing. Instead, use the starting

aid → p. 305 or use a tow truck to transport the

vehicle without all four wheels touching the

road.

Special case: off-road towing

If the vehicle is stuck in the field with the LOW

reduction stage engaged, it may be towed to

the next tarmac road at a speed of no more than

20 km (12 mph). From then on, towing may only

be carried out in ONROAD mode → p. 190. If this

is not possible, the vehicle must be transported

on a trailer or special vehicle.

When the vehicle has to be towed:

Check if the vehicle can be towed

→ p. 310, Cases in which the vehicle must never

be re-moulded .

– Switch on the ignition.

When the vehicle is to tow another vehicle:

– Move the selector lever to the N position.

→

p. 176.

– Please note the legal provisions in this

respect.

– Do not allow the vehicle to be towed at

– Observe the information in the operating

speeds in excess of 50 km/h (30 mph).

instructions on towing vehicles.

– Do not allow the vehicle to be towed more

than 50 km.

The vehicle may only be towed if the

electronic parking lock and the locking block

are in place.

– If a tow truck is used, the vehicle shall only

be towed with the front wheels suspended.

If the electronic parking brake in the steering

column is switched off, the electronic parking

brake in the steering column is switched off. If

the vehicle loses power or if there is a

malfunction in the electrical system, the engine

must be started with the starting aid in order

to release the electronic parking brake and the

steering column lock.

Towing all-wheel drive vehicles

All-wheel drive vehicles can be towed with a

tow bar or tow rope. If the vehicle is towed with

the front or rear axle suspended, the engine

must be switched off, otherwise the

transmission may be damaged.

Cases in which the vehicle must never be

towed

electronic steering column control.

In the following situations do not allow the

vehicle to be towed:

– The vehicle's gearbox is damaged or has no

lubricant.

– The 12-volt battery is discharged. On

vehicles with Keyless Access locking and

starting system, the steering remains locked

and the electronic parking brake cannot be

disengaged and the electronic steering

column lock cannot be released if they are

engaged.

– If the air suspension is faulty or the vehicle

is too low.

Various situations

311

– Screw the towing eye into the housing by

turning it counterclockwise as far as possible

Mounting the rear towing eye

→

fig. 238

→

. Use a suitable object with

which you can screw the towing eye fully

and firmly into its housing.

Note and at the beginning of this

on page 309.

chapter

– After towing, unscrew the towing eye by

turning it clockwise and refit the cover.

– Insert the lower flange of the cover into the

opening in the bumper and press down on the

upper flange of the cover until the upper

flange engages with the bumper.

– If necessary, clean the towing eye and put

it back in the luggage compartment with

the other on-board tools.

NOTICE

● The towing eye must always be fully and

firmly screwed into the housing. Otherwise it

could come out of the housing during towing

or towing.

Fig. 237 On the right-hand side of the rear bumper:

towing eye housing cover.

● If the vehicle is factory-equipped with a

towing device, it is only permitted to tow

with a tow bar that is specially designed for

mounting on a ball hitch. If an unsuitable

tow bar is used, both the ball hitch and the

vehicle could be damaged. Instead

a tow rope will have to be used.

Fig. 238 On the right-hand side of the rear bumper:

Screw in the towing eye.

Fitting the front towing eye

The mounting for the screw-on towing eye is

located on the right-hand side of the rear

bumper behind a cover → Fig. 237 . On vehicles

with factory-fitted towing brackets, there is no

mounting for the screw-on towing eye behind

the cover. In this case, the ball hitch must be

removed or mounted and used for towing .

Note and at the beginning of this

page 309.

chapter on

→ p. 278 →

Observe the instructions for towing → p. 309.

Mounting the rear towing eye

– Remove the towing eye from the on-board

tools in the luggage compartment.

→

p. 293.

– Press on the lower area of the lid

→ fig. 237 (arrow) to unhinge it.

Fig. 239 On the right side of the front bumper:

towing eye housing cover

– Remove the cover and leave it hanging on the

vehicle.

312

Instruction manual

NOTICE

The towing eye must always be on the towing eye.

The thread must be fully and securely screwed

into the housing. Otherwise it may come out of

the housing during towing start-up or towing.

do.

Driving tips for towing

Fig. 240 On the right-hand side of the front

bumper: Screw in the towing eye.

Note and at the beginning of this

on page 309.

chapter

The threaded towing eye mountings are located

on the right and left-hand sides of the front

bumper.

Towing a vehicle requires a certain amount of

skill and experience, especially if a tow rope is

used. Both drivers should be familiar with the

difficulties involved in towing. For this reason,

inexperienced drivers should refrain from

towing.

The towing eye must always be carried on the

vehicle.

Observe the information on re-moulding the

vehicle → page 309.

Mounting the front towing eye

During towing, it must be ensured that no

inadmissible tensile forces or jolts are

generated. When towing on unpaved roads,

there is always the danger of overloading the

attachment parts.

– Remove the towing eye and the trailer key

from the on-board tool kit in the luggage

compartment → p. 293.

– Press on the edge of the cover facing the

outside of the vehicle with a little force → fig.

239 (arrow) until the cover pops out a little. If

necessary, use the screwdriver from the on-

board tools on the opposite side of the

cover.

When towing, a change of direction can be

signalled on the towed vehicle even if the

hazard warning lights are switched on. To do

this, the direction indicator lever must be

operated accordingly when the ignition is

switched on. During this time, the hazard

warning flashers remain off. As soon as the

indicator lever is returned to the basic position,

the hazard warning flashers are automatically

switched on again.

– Grasp the cover from behind, pull it off and

leave it hanging from the vehicle.

– Screw the towing eye into the housing by

counterclockwise

turning it

as far as possible

→

fig . 240

→

Use a suitable object with

which you can screw the towing eye fully

and firmly into its housing.

Driver of the towed vehicle:

– Leave the ignition switched on so that the

steering wheel does not lock, so that the

electronic parking brake can be disengaged

and so that the direction indicators and

windscreen wiper work.

– After towing, unscrew the towing eye by

turning it clockwise and refit the cover.

– If necessary, clean the ring and the wheel

spanner and put them back in the luggage

compartment with the other on-board tools.

– You will need more steering force, as the

power-assisted steering does not work with the

engine switched off.

Various situations

313

Various situations -> Towing and towing for Your Volkswagen Touareg SUV Third Generation (2018-2025)

Related Topics

Various situations